Game cards are an integral part of tabletop and board games. As a game designer or enthusiast, you may want to create custom card decks for your own games. From poker decks to collectible card games, customized playing cards add uniqueness and personalization to any card-based game.
In this step-by-step guide, as a professional custom game cards printing manufacturer, I will show you how to professionally design and print custom game cards in 2024.
Why Make Custom Game Cards
Custom playing cards offer quite a few advantages for game creators and players:
- Originality: With customized card designs and artwork tailored to your game, you can make your tabletop game truly unique and engaging. This helps your game stand out in a competitive market.
- Theme Integration: Custom artwork and card content allow you to fully integrate the theme into your card game components, creating a cohesive play experience.
- Cost Savings: Printing custom game cards means you can save money by only printing what you need, especially in small batches for prototypes or indie releases.
- Flexibility: Fully control all elements and characteristics of your card game, including shapes, sizes, images, text, card stock, finishes, etc.
- Monetization: If releasing commercially, customized game cards with original art and design can help justify a higher retail price point for your entire game.
So if you’re ready to take your card game to the next level with customized playing cards, let’s look at the process step-by-step!
How to Make Custom Game Cards
Step 1 – Determine Card Specifications
The first step in designing custom game cards is determining the key specifications for your deck. Here are the main choices you’ll make:
Number of Cards: How many total cards will be in your deck? Standard 52-card decks and up can be printed, plus you can make any amount of unique cards.
Card Size and Shape: In inches or millimeters, determine the dimensions of your cards. Standard poker size is 2.5″ x 3.5″, but you can create square cards, tarot size, mini sizes and more.
Card Stock: Choose the thickness, texture and other qualities of the card material. Common options include linen and plastic card stock grades.
Finishes and Effects: Pick from a range of card finishes like smooth, linen, pearlescent, and scratch off. Other special effects can be integrated too.
Corners: Select rounded, straight cut, beveled or other corner shapes that work for your game cards and theme.
Borders: Determine if your card faces will have borders and customize the width and style as desired.
Consider the gameplay and artistic needs of your game while deciding on these card specifications early on.
Step 2 – Design Card Faces and Backs
Now the creative fun begins! Plan out and design both the front and back card faces however you’d like.
Front Artwork: Illustrate images, graphics, icons and other artwork to make each card face tie to your game theme. Add card titles, values, effects text or other content.
Back Patterns: Create a repeating card back pattern to use across the full deck. Integrate thematic background images, geometric shapes, or brand logos into the back art.
Color Schemes: Utilize complimentary and contrasting colors that are visually engaging. Plan out consistent hues for each player, team or card type as game mechanics require.
Unique vs Identical: For some types of games like poker, only the card faces differ while the backs are all the same. For others, you may want totally unique art on every single card.
I recommend sketching concepts first before moving into digital design software for the final card graphics. Illustrator, Photoshop and GIMP are common options.
Step 3 – Review and Playtest Cards
With draft card designs completed, the next key step is thorough playtesting with prototypes.
Print out card samples on basic paper or cardstock at home first. Ensure the scaling and alignment came out as expected from your digital files.
Play your game with these prototypes, getting input from other players on how readable and usable the cards are. Check that…
- Card faces clearly convey required gameplay information
- Artwork and color schemes fit the theme
- Fonts and text sizes are legible in hands of cards
- Any card back patterns work as intended while holding hidden card faces
- Shuffling and handling the deck feels good physically
Revise files as needed based on playtesting feedback before finalizing the cards for printing. Piloting your card designs like this helps avoid mistakes!
Step 4 – Prepare Print Ready Files
With card designs reviewed and gameplay validated with prototypes, the penultimate step is getting print ready files setup.
Here’s a checklist of key file requirements and optimizations so your custom cards print perfectly:
- Export individual card faces as PNG files at 300-600 dpi resolution
- Use monitored CMYK color mode for accurate color matching
- Leave 2mm bleed space around all card edges
- Add crop marks and other printing cutlines if needed
- Save card backs as repetitive PDF patterns or JPEG files
- Convert any text into clean vector outlines
- Flattens layers in Photoshop before exporting final artwork
- Check image resolutions meet print specs (min 250-300 dpi)
- Review all digital proofs closely for any required changes
Following print shop file guidelines ensures your artwork won’t have issues or need reworking once submitted. Do a last look over of all card graphics at 100% scale before uploading the set.
Step 5 – Choose a Card Printing Service
To handle the actual production printing of your deck, you’ll need to pick from the many online and local printing companies available.
Here are some factors and capabilities to consider when selecting where to get your custom game cards made:
- Card printing specialization
- Paper stock quality and texture
- Good color accuracy and image reproduction
- Acceptable order minimums and quantities
- Reasonable per unit costs for your budget
- Fast production with reliable delivery timelines
- Reputable customer service and support
Many websites make printing custom decks easier than ever at an indie scale. Weigh out costs vs quality as needed for your game.
For maximum quality control and predictability, going local to your city can be best if you can find and meet printers with card expertise.
Step 6 – Confirm Proofs and Print
With your print shop selected and files uploaded, you’ll next receive digital or physical card proofs to review.
Analyze these proofs extra closely, checking for:
- Correct high resolution images on all card faces and backs
- Text elements are clean and readable
- Colors match expected values without issues
- Cards have required finishes or treatments
- Consistent alignment and focus across the deck
- No surprises essentially!
Only approve final production once the proofs match your expectations 100%. Many printers will also send scans or photos of the first sheets printed so you can confirm all looks accurate before the full run prints.
Handle proof revisions as efficiently as possible. Most shops bill for excessive changes once past 3-5 rounds of edits.
Step 7 – Receive and Play!
In 7-10 business days with standard services, you’ll receive your finished custom print run of game cards!
Ripping open that first deck and shuffling the cards is an amazing feeling after all the hard work creating your game and card designs.
Show off pictures or videos of your unique cards on social media right away to start building buzz leading up to your game’s launch.
Most importantly though, play and enjoy using your custom cards in-person as much as possible! Share decks with your friends, family members and playtest groups to get more feedback on how they perform in the real world.
The Bottom Line
Now that you know the entire professional process for making custom game cards, you have everything you need to designer your own unique card game components and packaging. Turn your creative visions into playable reality in 2024!
For additional guidance as you make your amazing new tabletop or card game, feel free to get in touch. Good luck and have fun bringing your custom cards to life!